Page:The Book of Cats.djvu/39

Rh "But, my dear madam—"

"I am quite sure there is, sir; I feel it—I would rather go."

"John, Thomas, Joseph, can there be a Cat in the room?" demanded the embarrassed host of the servants.

"Quite impossible, sir;—have not seen such a hanimal about the place since I comed, any way."

"Well, look under the table, at any rate; the lady says she feels it; look in every corner of the room, and let us try to convince her."

"My dear, my dear!" remonstrated the annoyed bridegroom from a distant part of the table; "what trouble you are giving."

"Indeed, I would rather leave the room," said the little bride, slipping from her chair. But, meanwhile, the servants ostentatiously bustled in their unwilling search for what they believed to be a phantom fancy of the young lady's brain; when, lo! one of the footmen took hold of a half-closed window-shutter, and from the aperture behind out sprang a large cat into the midst of the astonished circle, eliciting cries and exclamations from others than the finely organised bride, who clasped her hands rigidly, and gasped with pallid lips.